Conn. panel to discuss embattled police chief

Conn. police commissioners to vote on whether to urge chief be ousted amid racial turmoil
By The Associated Press

EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) ' Police commissioners in East Haven, Conn., will be voting on whether to urge the mayor to fire the police chief instead of letting him retire amid allegations that officers abused Latinos.

The meeting is set for Tuesday evening. The commission board chairman says Leonard Gallo shouldn't be allowed to retire and collect a severance lump sum of $130,000 to $150,000.

Gallo on Monday announced his retirement following last week's arrests of four town officers. They've been accused of waging a campaign against Latinos that included beatings and false arrests. The officers have pleaded not guilty.

Gallo's lawyer says his client is an unnamed co-conspirator in the federal indictment, accused of blocking the police commission's efforts to investigate misconduct. The lawyer denies the claims.